Rationalizing Your Gambling Addiction

One of the best ways that you can begin dealing with your gambling addiction is by searching deep within yourself to discover the real reasons behind your behavior. 

It may be genetic.  For instance, as scientists learn more and more about the human genome, they are discovering that many people are genetically predispositioned towards risk taking behaviors.  There may also be another problem such as adult ADHD which also leads to problem gambling in many people.

Your gambling addiction may also be environmental.  Are you a lonely person outside of the casino?  Are you using gambling as an escape from other life problems?  If this is the case, gambling will only make your problems worse as the debt piles up.

Usually gambling addiction is caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors.  This aside, everyone has free will and you can make the decision to quit gambling forever.  Only YOU are in control of your actions; genetic and environmental factors simply influence the behavior, not control it.

Another day, Another Struggle - Dealing With My Gambling Addiction

I really felt compelled to blog today since it was one of the crappiest days at work today and I am dealing with a very strong urge to take my pay check to the casino, but I won't... yet. (Kidding, kidding) But seriously, I keep thinking to myself over and over taunting thoughts of hitting the jackpot at the casino. I know I must ignore these thoughts however, because looking back on things, the number of times I really "won big" while gambling in a casino were actually very few, but I do remember my losses. I remember literally cursing at the blackjack table when I busted because the idiot before me didn't play according to strategy. I know some of you fellow gamblers must know what I'm talking about. The point to this is that gambling addiction has many negative psychological effects. It builds slowly and gradually until the gambler becomes someone who is almost psychotic and lives their life around their superstitious beliefs.

I really REALLY want to gamble right now, but I know that I cannot. I've tried exercising but no luck. Maybe I should play poker online for play chips... nah, I know where that will lead. Sometimes blogging is the only thing that retains my sanity in times like these.

Beating Your Gambling Addiction

I want you to take 15 minutes a day and simply meditate. Calm yourself down, and when you have done so grab a pen and notepad. Now I want you to ask yourself "why do I gamble?" I want you to think long and hard about your answers as doing so will reveal to you the root of your gambling problems. Do you gamble to escape from emotions? Well you could most likely get a psychologist for less money than you would be gambling and in addition you would also be getting professional help to deal directly with your real emotions so you don't have to hide from them anymore. Do you gamble for the rush it provides? This is another common reason people slip into gambling addictions. It is important to remind yourself that there are many other alternatives to achieving such a rush. For example, skydiving, downhill skiing, running long distances will all provide you with an adrenaline rush that is far cheaper of an alternative than gambling. Do you gamble because you're lonely? This is another reason many American's gamble so really, you're not alone at all. For these people I recommend gambling group therapy. Through this, you will learn how to interact emotionally with other individuals who share the same problems. Always remember that gambling addiction is serious, and that by continuing to gamble you are not only hurting yourself, but all of your friends and family members as well.

Things You Didn't Know About Gambling

Did you know that the DSM-IV now lists pathological gambling as an official mental disorder? Here are a few of the criteria one must meet to classify as a pathological gambler:

• Increasing bets to get the same "rush" or "high".
• Restless and irritable when not gambling or trying to cut down on gambling.
• Committing illegal acts to obtain money to gamble.
• Borrowing money from family or friends for the purposes of gambling.
• Lying to family or friends about how much time or money spent gambling.
• Gamble to escape from emotions.
• Chase losses with further gambling in an attempt to win back everything.

Did you know that scientists have found that pathological gamblers have a high rate of comorbid psychological disorders?

Many gamblers have other psychological disorders in addiction to their pathological gambling. Some of the most common comorbid conditions are ADHD, Alcohol Abuse, Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Did you know that it is possible to predict who will become problem gamblers later in life?

Scientists don't know all the causes behind gambling addiction, but they do know enough to factor certain equations that predict who is at higher risk. Some of the higher risk factors are:

• Alcohol or drug abuse,
• Deep in debt or a shopaholic,
• Psychological disorders resutling in poor impulse control (ADHD),
• A big win in early gambling history

Did you know that there really is no such thing as a "addictive personality"?

It's true. But there are personality traits that correlate strongly with
certain kinds of addictive behavior. For example, a depressed person might use drugs to relieve a feeling, and if successful is likely to use that particular drug repeatedly, leading to addiction. If gambling works as an escape for some, they are likely to continue gambling. As far as DSM-IV listings go however, there is no recognized definition of the term "addictive personality."





GamblingAnon- Discover all the negative effects of gambling

Coping With Gambling Addiction, Day By Day

Surprisingly, I am finding that I'm adjusting to my "no gambling under any circumstances whatsoever" resolution. It is nice to take my girlfriend out for the evening and actually have the money to pay for dinner. That is the biggest thing I am starting to notice. I also feel more and more confident in myself each day. I definitely think that my new outlook on life is resulting in some very powerful positive changes overall.

And sure I get the urges to gamble once in awhile, but I am making sure not to fall back into old habits again. To be one hundred percent honest, life has been so much more amazing since I left all that behind me. The ultimate trick for me and my personal gambling struggle is to build my self-esteem. I am finding that the more I feel good about myself, the less urges I have towards gambling. My girlfriend has noticed the changes too, and our relationship is going much more smoothly without me changing the conversation to gambling every time she tried to talk to me. Apparently, women like to be listened to; who knew? My new approach to life has also made me physically healthier as I now exercise everyday and eat much better now that I take the time to cook. At least one positive about my whole gambling addiction experience is that it led me to a new appreciation of life.

Age Of Gambling By State

I thought this would be interesting and also useful statistics for anyone who is writing an assignment on gambling and happened to stumble upon my blog.  Here is a list of the gambling age limit in each state (if gambling is illegal, state won't be listed).

Age of Gambling by State


Alaska- 18

Arizona- 21

California- 18 & 21

Colorado- 21

Connecticut- 18 & 21

Delaware- 21

DC- 18

Florida- 18 &21

Georgia- 21

Idaho- 18

Illinois- 21

Indiana- 21

Iowa- 21

Kansas- 21

Louisiana- 21

Maine- 18

Maryland- 21

Massachusetts- 18

Michigan- Indian Casinos- 19, Detroit Casinos- 21

Minnesota- 18

Mississippi- 21

Missouri- 21

Montana- 18

Nevada- 21

New Hampshire- 21

New Jersey- 21

New Mexico- 21

New York 18 & 21

North Carolina- 21

North Dakota- 21

Ohio- 18

Oklahoma- 18 & 21

Oregon 18 & 21

Pennsylvania- 21

Puerto Rico- 21

Rhode Island- 18

South Carolina- 21

South Dakota- 21

Virgin Islands- 21

Washington 18 & 21

West Virginia- 21

Wisconsin- 21

Canada Gambling Age

The gambling age in Canada is 19 in every except in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, and the Yukon where the gambling age is 18.

The Risks of Underground Gambling

In addition to being extremely fraudulent, underground gambling is also illegal.

It has come to my attention that I have completely neglected to blog about the dangers of underground gambling, which is unlicensed and unregulated gambling. Now I am not talking about poker night at your buddy's house, although it is illegal if you are playing for money. What I am really talking about is "private games" that happen outside of a regulated and licensed casino or authorized other. This sort of underground gambling takes place in all major cities across the United States and even the world.

The risk with underground gambling is not getting caught by the police, but by the people who are running the game. If you are someone who engages in underground gambling I am telling you right now that your odds are much worse than even if you were gambling in a casino because there is no oversight whatsoever so 95% of the time the games are rigged. So if you are deciding to gamble which goes against everything I say in my gambling blog, than please do it in a regulated, licensed casino.